Travel – Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, AR

Posted on August 19, 2013 by barbara

Today is President William Jefferson Clinton’s birthday, he was born on August 19, 1946, and I thought it was a good time to share our trip to the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum located in Little Rock, Arkansas. On our annual road trip back from California, we took the southern route across the United States and made stops at the Grand Canyon, Tucson, Little Rock and Memphis before heading north to go home. When traveling across the country we always love to stop at the presidential libraries along the way and we have been to several of them – it doesn’t matter if the president was a democrat or republican – it is always a little history lesson!! We loved Little Rock and the people were extremely friendly and very proud of this revitalized area of Little Rock. (If you are interested, please check the January 2013 Travel post on Elvis Presley’s Graceland – Memphis, TN from the same road trip!)

The William J. Clinton Presidential Center is located in Little Rock near the Arkansas River and is home to the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, the Little Rock offices of the Clinton Foundation and the University of Arkansas Clinton School Of Public Service. When the Center opened in 2004, it brought more than $2.5 billion in economic development and renovations to the area located hear the historic River Market district. The Presidential Library has the largest archival collection of any American President and features 20,000 square feet of museum exhibit space including a recreation of the White House Cabinet Room and a full scale replica of the Oval Office. In speaking with the docent at the Library he told us that President Clinton visits the facility frequently when he is in Little Rock, in fact we missed seeing him there by only a few days!

After entering the Library there is usually a small revolving exhibit on the ground floor, when we visited it had several of Elvis Presley’s cars which was great because our next stop on our trip after Little Rock was Graceland – Memphis, TN. On the ground floor there is a permanent exhibit of the Presidential limousine used during the Clinton Administration.

Before proceeding to the second floor we purchased audio guides for each member in our group for a small fee, $3. The audio tour is narrated by President Clinton and there are numbered stations throughout the Library and visitors simply enter the corresponding number to hear the information regarding a specific exhibit. Also available for visitors are free one-hour “An American Presidency” tours offered three times a day with a paid admission, no reservations are required and check at the ticket counter for more information regarding the specific times. Volunteers are also stationed throughout the Library to answer any questions. While we were at the Special Services counter we also picked up the “Ideas Matter Youth Scavenger Hunt” which is a special self-guided children’s tour where they learn about the Library and search for areas marked by gold eagle coins, it was a fun activity for our 12 year old daughter and keep her busy during our visit.

In a small theater on the second floor there is an orientation film about President Clinton’s years in office. Behind the theater is a large exhibit hall which has different changing exhibits, check ahead on the Library’s website to see what will be on exhibit at the time of your visit. In front of the theater is an area with a recreation of the White House Cabinet Room. This room in the West Wing of White House has been used since 1902 as the place where the President, Vice-President, the various cabinet secretaries and other officials gather to make the choices that affect our country’s future. In a position of honor at the center of the table is the tallest chair, with a brass plaque marked “Mr. President”. (Of course everyone has to sit in the President’s chair!) On the walls surrounding the room, President Clinton had selected portraits of Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt and, his personal favorite, George Washington.

My favorite section of the Library was the 110 foot freestanding interactive timeline panels, starting from 1993 to 2001 representing the years of the Clinton administration. Each individual year panel gives information regarding the events of that particular year ranging from natural disaster, scientific breakthroughs and military conflicts as well as events regarding sports to music. Also in this section are 13 “policy alcoves” which explain specific policies of the Clinton administration. Architecturally and visually this area of the Library is very well-done and extremely informative.

On the third floor of the Library is a section with exhibits that explain the Clinton’s life in the White House and displays concerning special state events and holiday celebrations throughout the years. Also included in this section are several rotating exhibits displaying state gifts received during the Presidential years and personal memorabilia of the Clinton family.

The highlight of the third floor is the full-sized replica of Clinton’s Oval Office; this room is decorated with the furnishings and decorations that were used during the years of his administration. The original Oval Office in the White House was created in 1909 when President Taft built the West Wing. In 1934 President Franklin Roosevelt had the room moved to its present location in the southwest corner of the West Wing. My favorite piece of furniture in the room is the Resolute desk which is a 19th century desk used by many past presidents. Originally it was a gift from Queen Victoria given to President Rutherford Hayes in 1880 and is built from the timbers of the British Arctic Explorations ship the “Resolute”. Since them many presidents have used the desk at various locations in the White House and President Franklin Roosevelt added a small door built to prevent people from seeing his wheelchair. It was first brought to the Oval Office in 1961 for President Kennedy and after his assassination it was used in a traveling exhibition to raise funds for the Kennedy Presidential Library and then put on display at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. President Jimmy Carter brought the desk back to the Oval Office where every president has used it since then. (My memory of the Resolute desk is the iconic photo of little John-John Kennedy peeking out underneath from the door of the desk. Of course, if you have see the 2007 movie “National Treasures 2 – Book of Secrets, you will remember the famous scene where Nicolas Gage searching for a hidden treasure in the desk!)

When plans where first being discussed for the Clinton Presidential Library the first choice was to build it in Little Rock, Arkansas. The building’s architects took inspiration from the six bridges over the Arkansas River; expanded on the Clinton administration “a bridge to the future” theme used in the 2000 millennium celebration and built the bridge-like building concept that fits in beautifully with the scenic river view at the site. Clinton also wanted the building to be an example of the green building design concept of sustainable construction and operation. The Clinton Presidential Center has received the Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification and presently is the only federally maintained facility to receive this prestigious recognition.

Gene Roddenberry’s Birthday

Posted on August 19, 2013 by jeff0006

As the first guest writer on Barbara’s Lifestyle Blog I have some pretty big shoes to fill. I think Barbara chose this time to have a guest writer on this specific topic because she admits she knows nothing about Star Trek and over the years I have forced her to watch all the Star Trek television shows and movies and to attend exhibitions shows over the last few decades.

For those of you who don’t know me, yes, I am a Trekkie! (That’s me in the above photo – the second guy from the right in the gold uniform!) I have been watching the show since I got control of the television remote many years ago, longer than I’m willing to admit to! I can tell you the plot of any of the original series episodes within 30 seconds of seeing it and I’m proud of it! Every year Barbara makes me my own mini Christmas tree completely decorated with Star Trek ornaments.

Why am I rambling on about Star Trek? Because today is Gene Roddenberry’s birthday and he is the father of Star Trek. Gene Roddenberry was born in El Paso, Texas on August 19, 1921 and he died October 24, 1991. Growing up Gene wanted to be a police officer like his father. He attended Los Angeles College and studied Police Sciences. There he gained an interest in aeronautics and earned his pilot’s license through the Army Air Corps Civilian Pilot training program. In 1941 he graduated and enlisted as a pilot in the newly formed Army Air Force. During World War II he flew 89 combat missions in the South Pacific. During this time he also started writing.

After the war Gene went to work as a pilot for Pan American World Airways. His interest in writing continued and in 1949 he quit the airline to go to Hollywood to be a screenwriter. To support his family while building his writing career he joined the Los Angeles Police Department where he eventually rose to the rank of sergeant and and became William H. Parker’s chief speech writer.

In 1956 his writing career gained steam and he was able to quit the LAPD. Over the next several years he wrote episodes for several series including “Have Gun – Will Travel” and “Highway Patrol”. Ultimately he started to produce his own television series. Star Trek was picked up by Desilu Studios and was aired on NBC starting in 1966. The original series lasted for three years, but reruns can still be found on late night television in syndication.

Gene Roddenberry Interesting Facts

His full name was Eugene Wesley Roddenberry.
He was the first member of his family to achieve a college degree.
He achieved the rank of Captain and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medals.
Wrote under the pseudonym “Robert Wesley” in his early career.
He had affairs with both Nichelle Nichols and Majel Barrett who he later married.
He was the first writer/producer to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 1992, a portion of Roddenberry’s ashes flew and returned to earth on the Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-52.

Star Trek

Space…the final frontier.
These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise,
its five-year mission

….to explore strange new worlds
…to seek out new life and new civilizations
…to boldly go where no man has gone before.

Gene Roddenberry (August 10, 1966)

Star Trek is by far the most successful franchise Gene Roddenberry created. While he had little to do with some of the later series and movies his name recognition is so great he is always given creator, writer or producer credit. The franchise to date includes: Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space 9; Star Trek: Voyager, Enterprise, Star Trek: The Animated Series, 13 movies, hundreds of books and Star Trek: Comic Books.

Over the years there have also been a couple of Star Trek events I have participated in. The first was Star Trek: The Experience which ran at the Las Vegas Hilton from 1998 to 2008 This was an interactive Star Trek set where you walked through and were attacked by the Borg or Klingons. Quark’s (the theme restaurant) had a fun atmosphere and the food was fair. The gift shop had some amazing props and show artifacts. I got my Command uniform there (that’s the red one from Star Trek: The Next Generation) and a Star Trek Visa Card which unfortunately Bank of America no longer offers.

We also went to see a Star Trek exhibit in Philadelphia in 2009 while we were taking one of our summer road trips. They had various uniforms, props and a full bridge where we took some photos (I wish I had dressed a little less casual…)

Social themes in Star Trek

While Gene Roddenberry was far from perfect (he had several extramarital affairs, he is said to have stolen other’s ideas and reportedly had actors call him “Master”), he was a visionary and extremely socially conscious. He constantly fought NBC on social issues such as woman’s rights and racial equality. Originally he cast Majel Barrett as “Number One”, captian Pike’s first officer, but NBC didn’t think the public would accept a woman in a position of authority.

He also cast Nichelle Nichols in an equal role (not as a servant or entertainer of some kind). When the network wouldn’t hire her as a full time cast member he hired her as a day player and cast her in as many roles as the rest of the crew. Nichelle wanted to leave the show after the first season, but Dr. Martin Luther King asked her to remain on as she was a role model for African Americans. Remaining on the show lead to the first interracial kiss on TV in the 1968 episode “Plato’s Stepchildren“.

Star Trek Trivia

Star Trek technology is alive and real today. Key examples are:
- 3 1/2 inch floppy disks
- Tablet computers
- Flip Phones (communicators)
- Video conferencing
- Flat Screen Television
Amazon has 56,777 Star Trek items for sale
The original name for Star Trek was “Wagon Train to the Stars”
DeForest Kelly was originally offered the role of Spock
James Doohan lost his middle finger on his right hand during World War II. He hid it during almost all of the episodes.
Spock’s mother was unable to make the Live Long and Prosper sign with her hand. She had to pre-position her hand and lift it.
Majel Barrett played in the original Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and several of the Star Trek movies. She provided several of the voices in the animated series and she was the voice of the computer on most of the series and movies.
Contrary to popular belief, I was only aboard the Enterprise for a short time.

I hope you enjoyed reading this guest post as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you did, please leave some wonderful comments so Barbara will let me write another!

Jeff Jones

Travel – Neuschwanstein Castle

Posted on August 15, 2013 by barbara

My son and I were fortunate to see Neuschwanstein Castle when we were on a trip to Germany in 1998. King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein is a 19th century fairytale castle located on the hill above the small village of Hohenschwangau, near Fussen in southern Germany. We were on a bus tour of this beautiful region known as Bavaria that originated from Munich. The tour took us first to Linderhof, one of King Ludwig’s smaller palaces, then on to a brief shopping visit to Oberammergau which is famous for their woodcraving, beautifully painted houses and the Passion Play. The final stop and the highlight of the tour was Neuschwanstein Castle and it was an enchanting experience and very exciting for this Disney fan to see the actual castle that was the inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle in Anaheim, CA.

A Brief Histoy of Neuschwanstein Castle

In the Middle Ages there were three castles near the village of Hohenschwangau, which is located at 2,620 feet elevation near the border of Germany and Austria. Schwanstein Castle was located nearest the village and on the hill overlooking were twin castles known as Vorderhohenschwangau Castle and Hinterhohenschwangau Castle. Over the centuries all three castle fell into ruins. Then, in 1832 King Maximilian II began to build a new castle known as Hohenschwangau Castle near the ruins of the Schwanstein Castle. By 1837 the palace was completed and became the summer residence of the King and his family. In 1864 King Maximillian died and his eldest son became King Ludwig II. Ludwig was only 19 years old when he became king of Bavaria and he was a very shy and introverted man who spent his childhood exploring this area of southern Germany.

Several years later, Ludwig wanted to build a secluded personal refuge and he decided on the area where the twin castles once stood. The building design was drafted by the stage designer Christian Jank and the King insisted on control over all aspects of the palace and is largely regarded as his own creation rather that the architects involved. The foundation stone for Neuschwanstein Castle was laid in 1869. Over 200 craftsmen were employed with additional 100 workers at different times in order to meet the King’s specific deadlines for the construction of the palace. The materials used for the construction of the palace were approximately white limestone for the exterior walls, sandstone for the portals and Salzburg marble for the arched window frames and columns. Transportation of these materials was difficult due to the site located on the steep hill, cranes and scaffolds were also needed during the construction. In 1884, the King moved into the still unfinished palace to oversee the completion of the construction and the final interior details. Ludwig only spent six months at his beloved Neuschwanstein before he died under mysterious circumstances in the water of Lake Stanberg new Berg Castle in 1886 at the age of 40 years old.

The exterior of Neuschwanstein Castle is designed in the Romanesque style of architecture and the building has numerous towers, turrets, gables and balconies. Built on the hill above the village of Hohenschwangau with the Pollat Gorge to the south and the foothills of the Alpine mountains and lakes to the north, the palace’s setting offers many picturesque views in all directions. Neuschwanstein was intended to be King Ludwig’s private residence and the interior design is based on the German legend of Lohengrin or the Swan Knight as immortalized in the operas of Richard Wagner and his music was very inspirational in the design of the palace.

At the time of Ludwig’s death, only 14 finished rooms of the palace were completed and furnished. The original 65,000 square feet floor plan was designed with more than 200 rooms with the majority of those rooms intended as guest and servant accommodations. The largest room of the palace is the Hall of Singer’s which is 89 feet by 33 feet and is located in the east wing of the palace. The Hall was designed with a stage at the far end but was never intended for court entertainment of the reclusive King. No performance was held in the room until 1933 when there was a concert performed to commemorating the 50th anniversary of Richard Wagner’s death, he never lived to Neuschwanstein.

The Throne Room measures 66 feet by 39 feet with a 43 feet high ceiling takes up the space of the third and fourth floors and is located in the west wing of the palace. At the request of King Ludwig, this Byzantine style room is designed to incorporate the symbols of unrestricted sovereign power and the divine right of kings. Hanging overhead is a chandelier in the shape of a Byzantine crown and at the far end of the room is a dais but is without a throne since King Ludwig’s throne was not finished at the time of his death. The walls surrounding the dais have paintings of Jesus and the twelve apostles and also portraits of six canonized kings: Saint Louis of France, Saint Stephen of Hungry, Saint Edward the Confessor of England, Saint Wenceslaus of Bohemia, Saint Olaf of Norway and Saint Henry the Holy Roman Emperor.

King Ludwig’s bedroom suite is in contrast to the other rooms in the palace and is decorated in a Neo-Gothic style. It took 14 woodcarvers 41/2 years to complete this room; the bed is crowned with the intricate woodcarvings and covered with embroidered draperies. The wall painting is “Tristian and Isolde” a story from one of Wagner’s operas. The adjacent dressing room is completely paneling in oak and the painted trellis on the ceiling gives the impression that the room is open to the sky.

The Living Room is completely inspired by the legend of the Swan Knight, Lohengrin, which had significant meaning and held great importance to Ludwig. In this room there is a mural called “The Miracle of the Grail”, the Grail King was a medieval legend of a pauper that had risen to become King because of his pure soul and he achieved this success by overcoming sin and winning his inner battles. Ludwig’s obsession with the Grail King is very understandable when looking at his diaries indicate that he also suffered with deep inner turmoil in repressing his homosexuality. Another mural in the room is called “The Arrival of Lohengrin in Antwerp” is important given that the young prince Ludwig was so overwhelmed by Wagner’s opera Lohengrin that he considered the opera a form of enlightenment. Ludwig was a recluse and completely identified himself with the Swan Knight whose tragic downfall was his overwhelming loneliness that he frequently dressed as the character. Neuschwanstein means “New Swan Stone” and King Ludwig II is still thought of today as the “Swan King”.

Travel tips for visiting Neuschwanstein Castle

Before ascending the hill, purchase castle tour tickets at the ticket center in Hohenschwangau or tour tickets are also available for a small additional reservation fee on the Neuschwanstein website, www.neuschwanstein.de

TRAVEL NOTE: The tour ticket is valid only for a specific date and time and be advised that it takes awhile to reach the castle at the top of the hill. If you have purchased tickets online, please arrive at least 1½ hours before your reserved time to allow for travel up to the castle entrance.

There are various options to get to the top of the hill and the castle entrance. The price for the bus and the horse-carriage ride will variety from one fee for the uphill trip and another fee for the downhill trip. (When we visited Neuschwanstein, we took the bus to the top of the hill to the castle entrance and then after the castle tour we walked back down to the village).

Walk: A strenuous hike from the village at the bottom on the hill up to the castle at the top can takes about 45 minutes to an hour. A hike down the hill after the tour is a great way to see the beautiful views across the way to Hohenschwangau Castle with the village down below and also Alpsee Schansee, a picturesque lake located on the other side of the castle.

Bus: There is fee for the bus and will depart from in front of the Schlosshotel in the village. Visitors will ride up the hill to a stop near Jugend lookout and Marienbrucke. From the bus stop there is still a strenuous and steep path which will take visitors about 15 minutes to reach the castle entrance.

TRAVEL TIP: Be sure to take a moment to look at the lovely view of Neuschwanstein and the Pollat Gorge before walking to the castle entrance. The location at the Maienbrucke (or Mary’s Bridge) is a wonderful vantage point for pictures of Nesuchwanstein and the waterfall below the bridge.

Horse-drawn carriage: There is a fee for the carriage ride and will depart from in front Hotel Muller in the village, then from the carriage stop it is a shorter walk to the castle entrance. (If you can afford this mode of transportation is can be a wonderful way to travel up the hill to the castle)

Guided tours of the interior of the castle take about 35 minutes and are held in German and English, other languages are available as audio guides.

TRAVEL NOTE: The castle tour can be strenuous for visitors, please be advised the tour will covers 5 floors of the castle, 165 stair steps upstairs and 181 stair steps downstairs. Call ahead to inquire about special arrangements made for the disabled persons using a wheelchair or walker.

Neuschwanstein has more than 1 million visitors every year and in the busy summer months of July, August and September there can be 6,000 visitors per day. Arrive early in the day to purchase castle tour tickets at the ticket center in Hohenschwangau or pick up pre-arranged tour tickets at the will call window.

Photography is not allowed inside the castle.

For more information regarding times, prices, etc check out the Neuschwanstein website, www.neuschwanstein.de

Neuschwanstein Castle and the Disney connection

When Walt started the construction of the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, CA he wanted something at the end of Main Street to draw his guests into the park. At the time the Disney animated film “Sleeping Beauty” was about to be released and Walt thought a fairytale castle would be the perfect solution. The castle they built as the entrance to Fantasyland is called the Sleeping Beauty Castle and it was one of the first buildings to be completed for the new theme park that opened July 17, 1955.

Sleeping Beauty Castle has been noted to be a composite of the architecture of French and Bavarian castles which were originally built during the Middle Ages. But in actuality the inspiration for the Disneyland castle is a place Walt Disney and his wife Lillian visited many years before on a European vacation, Neuschswanstein Castle in Germany. The resemblance between the two castles is uncanny and the architectural features are undeniable.

Craft – Fold-up Homework Station

Posted on August 13, 2013 by barbara

The idea of a fold-up homework station came from an article in the Family Fun Magazine. I really like the idea for an organized place to do homework and it was an easy project to make for our daughter back in 2009. She loved the fold-up work station and it was a great way to teach her about the organization of her school homework, a place to keep track of her school schedule and when upcoming projects were due for class. She used it in elementary school and recently asked if I could make a new one for middle school.

Fold-up Homework Station – supplies

1 tri-fold display board, choose white if it will be decorated or any color board if not
Double stick tape or adhesive glue dots
Adhesive Velcro dots
Calendar, size is determined by the display board used
Dry-erase memo board, size is determined by the display board
Sticky-note dispenser
Clip to attached homework and school notices
Pencil pouch filled with pencils, pens, erasers, child-safe scissors
Calculator

Fold-up Homework Station – instructions

Display board can be decorated with paint, stickers, etc. The idea is to get your child involved with the decorations so that they get excited about using the homework station. (I choose to leave the board white and let the accessories add the color to the project).
Prior to attaching accessories, determine placement on the board. Be aware of the items positions, especially in the left and right sections because those will be folded in when the homework station is not in use. (I choose to position the calendar in the center section, the memo board in the left section and the supplies and other accessories in the right section).
Attach the accessories with double-stick tape or adhesive dots for paper or light items. Use adhesive Velcro dots for accessories that will be removable, such as a calculator.
The fold-up homework station is now complete and ready to use. When your child is not using the homework station it can be folded and stored away in a nearby closet. (I choose to leave the homework station out all the time because we have a countertop/desk area in our kitchen that is used specifically for our daughter to do her homework)

2013-08-16 17.14.13

The fold-up homework station is a great idea if you have several children at your home. Make a homework station for each child, set them up at a table and the children can work with disturbing each other because the homework stations will act as a partition to separate them.

For more information about getting your kids ready for back-to-school, please check out the post Ideas and Tips for a Great School Year.

I hope your new school year gets off to a great start!!

Ideas and Tips for a Great School Year

Posted on August 12, 2013 by barbara

August … in our home it means that summer break is almost over and a new school year is about to start! Of course, it also means that it is time to shop for new school clothes (kids grow so fast!) and new school supplies. When our daughter was in elementary school I was able to do most of the shopping quickly by myself but now that she is an “official” teenage for the last couple of years she has been very particular about everything from clothes, backpack, binder, etc.

Preparing for a new school year can be very time consuming and a stressful process. Establishing some family back-to-school traditions is a wonderful way for children, preschool to high school age, to get excited about the start of a new school year but more importantly it builds wonderful memories and makes them feel loved. So, to help prepare for the upcoming new school year here are some tips and ideas:

End of summer traditions

Plan one last weekend trip to a favorite destination; maybe it is spending a day at the beach, lake or local pool, maybe it is going to the amusement park, miniature golf course or a water park. The idea is to have a fun time at one of the family’s favorite summer locations.
Who says you have to go somewhere to have a good time, you can go camping in your own backyard! Just set-up a tent with a few sleeping bags, be sure to have a couple of flashlights and the family can spend a wonderful night under the stars at your own home! Plan a special family meal cooked on the outdoor grill and don’t forget the fixings for s’mores.
Before school starts, plan a great movie night; it can be at the local theatre in your town or in the comfort of your own home. If the family is going out to the movie theatre, make it an event by first having a quick dinner at a favorite restaurant or after the movie go from some ice cream or frozen yogurt. If the family is staying movie home to watch a movie; make a special dinner and a great dessert and don’t forget to make some popcorn to eat during the movie.
Another idea is to have a family game night. Bring out the old favorite family games such as monopoly, scrabble, trivial pursuit, etc. The important thing is to spend some quality time together as a family and have some fun!

Preparing for the new school year

Shopping for school supplies – usually the school will have a supply list available. The key to shopping for school supplies is to shop early when the items are first available in the stores, then there is more of a selection and items are not sold out. Since our daughter started middle school, I found that this is especially true for locker equipment and accessories which for some reason are usually in the stores in limited quantities. In middle school decorating their locker is a big thing and items like locker shelves quickly sell out, so shop early to get the items that are needed.

CRAFT IDEA #1 – Last year, we decorated a white binder with a collage of pictures, it was a simple and easy project and my daughter loved it! To make one of your own, just be sure to buy a binder with a plastic sleeve on the front. Select a variety of photos and glue them to a sheet of white scrapbook paper pre-cut to fit the size of the binder. Allow the glue is dry completely; then simply slip the paper with the photos into the front sleeve of the binder.

CRAFT IDEA #2 – Add scrapbook stickers to plain binders for a one-of-a-kind look!

Shopping for school clothes – For many families, especially those with young girls, shopping for school clothes can be a very stressful time. I would advise first to set a budget; this should be discussed with your child prior to shopping. Make a list of the items needed for the school year, leaving here in the Midwest our family will shop twice a year for school clothes, fall/winter clothes and spring clothes. Next, if you have a young daughter, buy some age appropriate fashion magazines and look through them together. Discuss the school dress code and what the limitations are before shopping. Hopefully with these suggestions a trip to the store to shop for school clothes will be a better experience. I went to a private school and had to wear a uniform for all 12 years of school, if your child is wearing a uniform think about the importance of accessories; maybe a nice watch or some great jewelry so they can add their own personality into their daily outfit. (Always check first to see what the school dress code allows)
Plan a visit to the school prior to the first day – this is a great idea if your child is transitioning from preschool to elementary school, elementary to middle school or middle to high school. This is very helpful especially if your child is nervous and anxious about a change from one school to another. When we moved from California to the Midwest, we took our daughter to her new school to check it out prior to the first day, she was able to see her new classroom, meet the teacher and take a tour of the school.
After summer mornings sleeping in, prepare your child by getting them up earlier each day for a week before the first day of school. Check that their alarm clock is working correctly and if they don’t have one for their bedroom be sure to buy them one.

The night before the first day of school

Pick out the clothes the night before, this will help to hopefully avoid some of the madness and make getting dressed in the morning a little easier and faster.
Make sure they have everything they need in the bathroom, including toothbrush and toothpaste, etc.
Be sure that their backpack is ready to go and they have all their supplies so they can just grab it and leave in the morning and not forget anything.
Have a great quiet family dinner, it would be a great opportunity to talk about the first day and answer any questions.
Pack their lunch the night before, make sure that first day lunch has their favorite sandwich, a healthy snack and drink and a yummy treat for dessert. Maybe tuck in a special note telling them how much you love them and wish them a great first day!
Go to bed a little earlier the night before the first day of school and get a good night’s rest. Be sure to have your child set the alarm clock in their bedroom and also set the alarm clock in your bedroom, too. The trick is to set your alarm for a few minutes earlier to make sure your child wakes up with plenty of time to eat a good breakfast and to get dressed.

The first day of school

One of the special traditions in our family is on the first day of school I always take a picture of my children with their backpacks and lunch boxes. It is a wonderful way to look back and see how much they have grown and how fashion has changed over the years. Be sure to allow at least an extra 10 minutes to take some quick photos. (Another idea is to take a picture on the last day of school every year – this is something I didn’t do but now I wished I had!)

Consider giving your child a small gift on the first day of school. It can be something practical that they can use for school or maybe have a special toy for when they get home.
When your child gets home from school on the first day, have a festive banner welcoming them home. Bake a special treat for your child to enjoy when they get home, maybe their favorite cake, cookies or cupcakes. This is a great opportunity for your child to share their first day experience.

I hope everyone has a great start to the school year!!

The Enchanted Manor

a lifestyle blog by Barbara Jones

Monthly Archives: August 2013

Travel – Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, AR

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Gene Roddenberry’s Birthday

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Travel – Neuschwanstein Castle

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Craft – Fold-up Homework Station

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Ideas and Tips for a Great School Year

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